Authorities told Hawaiian residents on Sunday to prepare for a Category 1 hurricane to rush toward the islands with 90 mph winds and flash flood warnings.
Maui was expected to be hit first, Oahu in the afternoon and Kauai and Niihau at night, the National Hurricane Center said. The Great Island of Hawaii is under a tropical storm warning.
“The heavy rains associated with Douglas are expected to affect portions of the main Hawaiian Islands from this morning until Monday,” the center forecast, warning residents of up to 15 inches of rain in elevated areas. Authorities warned that heavy rains could produce flash floods and said that even in areas under tropical storm warnings, “the rugged terrain of the islands” makes hurricane winds possible.
“Large breaking waves will raise water levels to 3 feet above normal tides near the center,” the center warned, saying the waves would bring a dangerous storm surge.
Municipal and state parks closed on all islands on Sunday, and some supermarkets and markets closed early. Everyone camping in Oahu city parks was given permission, and some tourist destinations were also closed.
Hawaii is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases. The state posted its third consecutive single-day record on Saturday, according to NBC affiliate KHNL of Honolulu, with 73 new cases reported. Of these, 68 were found on Oahu and five on Maui, where the storm is expected to have an impact.
